Wednesday, 30 January 2013

I spend all my time tidying up, cleaning out and generally in a bit of a state. I should be showing all my WIPs to the wider world, one UFO at at time, I mean, it's only right and it's why I started WOW in the first place.

But I think I can be forgiven today, as I happen to be working on the next Mystery BOM. Yes, another one!

I shouldn't. My 'mystery' this year should be to unearth all my WIPs and get them done.

It's only right. And it's been so long since I started them that they probably would all my mysteries to me. But I can't help creating new things, so here I go again.

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Downsizing doesn't get any easier. I wish I could report on my progress since last week, but there's been so little of it. I thought I had enough room for the essentials, but it looks like I'm going to have to re-think what those essentials are. I haven't even started on my stash yet, and looking at my boxes I know more than half has to go. But what to do with it? It's all so beautiful which is why I chose it to begin with..and that's what makes it so difficult to part with. I keep re-finding old ideas with each new batch of prints, even though I know full well that each new quilt usually requires the purchasing of new fabric. I have to get around this or I'll never have the space I need.

﻿On the plus side, I found a folio of my quilt patterns and I'm having a good look over what I want to make and looking at my calendar thinking about reasonable dates to get around to making it. There's another BOM in here somewhere and I'm deciding between mainly pieced or mainly applique? I feel like some piece work after FMN, but applique never loses it's allure either.

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Look what I found this morning - I guess there really are some perks to clearing out your sewing room!I have loved this little Ming Dynasty Japanese vase for over 20 years! It's been missing for a good five years, I was sure I last saw it in my DDs bedroom, so I'll have to admit right now that I actually found it nestled in my aqua/yellow fabric stash. It was bundled up which must be how I missed it when I packed my fabric boxes up. I think I must have been matching it...for a table runner or a complimentary applique plate wall hanging, or maybe I just wanted to make some cotton serviettes to serve with tea and biscuits? They all sound like nice ideas.

This little find coupled with the fact that it's Wednesday and I don't
have any WIP progress to show because of my sewing room situation, makes
me all the more determined to make more progress today.

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Once again we are working in size "A" which is the
smallest block size in this quilt. It's fiddly and requires patience, and that's also why size A has come in for the last 3 blocks. You know you're reaching the end, so hopefully the extra attention required won't feel too difficult!

Monday, 14 January 2013

My sewing room has been in need of some serious attention for years. Somehow, there's always been something more pressing to attend to. There were times I purchased the same item 2 or 3 times because I forget I already had some...or more often, couldn't find where the existing supply or item actually was. Then there came the time when my shelves couldn't take any more, then came the time when I found it hard to really do anything too productive because I had to dig myself into and out of areas. And it doesn't matter how large the space is, it seems I can always fill it...and have mobile sewing stations set up around the house as well. I really dislike the word 'minimising' because it always sounds to me of getting rid of things when you don't want to. And I do want to. This isn't about going without. It's about having the best use of what I already own.

The problem with going through all my stuff is that I keep finding interesting things!

I realised that I had too much stuff. The problem is, it's all useful. And it's all served a purpose. But, like a lot of things, I reached a point where I had to minimise. I want to go back to essential items and plenty of space. The fact is, although I have so many useful tools and time saving devices (such as specialty rulers), I always do things the same way and mostly use a small handful of the same things over and over. So who am I saving all these items for?? I was holding a lot of stuff for my DDs...but they've proven over and over that they're perfectly capable of buying things themselves. So I've decided to let a lot of unused items go to good homes. And I'm minimising to maximise my quilting time.

I've let go of literally hundreds of magazines which has given me so much space. Since blogging came along I don't buy magazines regularly anymore and I'll be holding onto just a shelf or two of essential quilting and inspiration books. Over the next 2 weeks I will be unpacking my fabrics and downsizing The Stash.

I'm really excited about my new neat shelves. Well, they will be neat. Soon.

When I started my clear out before Christmas, I really thought I could get it done before New Years. Ha! My fabrics are still boxed up. My Wips are still bagged up. It's just something that can't be rushed. I don't want a single unnecessary thing cluttering my space. I've sorted, boxed and moved everything out of my sewing space. I've re-positioned the shelves back to back, library like, to maximise room. I'm going through everything to have only the things I really need around me. I have so many projects I want to see completed over the next year or two, and this will be a real pick up in my working pace. I don't want to do it amongst clutter and disorganisation.

I really miss having my own sewing room to retreat to. I've started sketching over my shopping lists because I can't the box with all my journals. I've already started designing new quilt elements, so I'm going to need my new improved sewing space very soon; I'm going to have to just get on with it, no matter how long it takes!

and several times I tried to post my Christmas recipes and goings on, but couldn't upload images to blogger and could not work out why or what was going on. Well, now I have just found out that it's a major blogger problem that google are working out and I could have posted all along if I'd known to open my browser in Firefox, which is what I'm doing now as I am still having this difficulty with Google.

And it occurs to me, that technology is moving so fast, that whever I think I can just about manage it, it decides to upgrade and I'm left having to learn something new again and I find I'm wasting so much time on what should be really simple stuff.

I'd rather be quilting!

It's time to get stuck into some WIPs (this is the plan) and try to hold off starting anything new (although I have some great ideas I feel should really get underway too) so I'll have to decide how to spend my quilting time, just as soon as I've caught up on my emails, below...

Welcome to My Blog

Hello, I'm Esther: a textile artist & quilter. This blog is where I share my original Free BOMs, work on projects, talk quilts and experiment with new techniques.

Find my Quilt Archives at the top of this page (and don't forget to add your own linky if you've made any of my quilts yourself) or leave a comment on the Quilt Archive Page and let us know what corner of the world you're in, it's always so nice to see how widespread our Group is!

Each Wednesday you're invited to take part in my Weekly WOWs linky party as bloggers around the world drop in to share their stash busting efforts.

And don't forget to join my BOM Groupwhere you can become a member and take part in my BOMs for free.

I'm so glad you're here

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Wednesdays are WOW days Linky Party

Join us each Wednesday as we share our WIPs, talk techniques and inspiration. If you don't have a blog, share your own WOW by leaving a comment each Wednesday.

Elmer's Disappearing Purple Glue

Here it is - my daily essential applique glue everyone always asks me about. I always buy it in the 6gram smaller size as it's easier to use in applique. I used to think this glue was 'starch' and have since been corrected on that point - but it's still my staple. It's effective yet washes away like a dream and doesn't gum up my machine when sewing.

2017 Mainly Applique Mystery BOM

Just Finished! Download NOW! My Free 2017 Block Of The Month!

It's the FINAL month of my Free BOM 2017. Diamond Hill will run Jan - July 2017 and the finished size is 72 x 72 inches. This is a Free BOM and you can download the pattern over in my BOM Quilt Group on Facebook or right here on my blog, on the 15th of each month. CLICK THIS IMAGE to go to the Diamond Hill ARCHIVE.

Have You Joined Yet?

This is the place to download current free BOM patterns, chat with others and share your ideas, tips and pics as you make any of my quilts! My Free BOM Quilt Group is located over on Facebook, click the image to apply to join. Membership is free. Click this image to join.

Start a New BOM Today!

These quilts are perpetual BOMs - you can start any time, and receive your blocks via email each month.

Sweet 2016 Wall Hanging BOM

This gorgeous quilt is ready and waiting for you to make a start! Click the image to read more about Sweet 2016!

Oma's Blues

Finished Size: 76 x 76 inches

Creative Bloggers Directory

Add your blog for free, connect with other creative people online and find exciting new blogs

Looking for one of my quilts?

Love Entwined:1790 Marriage Coverlet

Make it month by month via subscription or purchase the pattern outright. Finished Size: 96 x 96 inches.CLICK THIS IMAGE to go to the Love Entwinedl ARCHIVE.

Thursday Flowers

Red December

Finished Size: 74 x 74 inches. CLICK THIS IMAGE to go to the Red December ARCHIVE.

12 Days of Christmas

Finished Size: 42 x 51 inches. CLICK THIS IMAGE to go to the 12 Days of Christmas ARCHIVE.

Glad Tidings

A bed quilt, Throw Quilt and Table Runner

Get Together & Quilt!

Reading, Sharing & Enjoying...

These are the books I love, rely on and know to be worth their space on my shelf.

I am currently downsizing but these books are my 'essentials' and will stay with me forever. I'm often asked which books I recommend for applique and quilting (and knitting) and I know I've scribbled titles down for people whenever I am out and about, so I'm really happy to share my bookshelf titles here.

I buy a lot of my books at the Book Depository and have done for the last 5 years, I definitely recommend them as a bookseller.

'Simply Successful Applique' by Jeanne Sullivan

This is a book I am always recommending - in my opinion its the only applique book a quilter needs. I've also had the pleasure of getting to know Jean online and she is as generous and thoughtful as this book is thorough and engaging. If you don't already own this title, why ever not?!

'QuiltMaking by Hand' by Jinny Beyer

I must have recommended this book at least 100 times in the last 10 years, it's an essential read for all quilters